Apparatus for electrically transmitting decade counter tube results



- E. SPINGIES ETAL 1960 APPARATUS FOR ELECTRICALLY TRANSMITTING2,961,546

DECADE COUNTER TUBE RESULTS Filed May 24, 1957 N l/ /V TOR S E fipingiGs#1 1 R056 United 2,961,546 latented Nov. 22, 1960 APPARATUS FORELECTRICALLY TRANSMIT- TING DECADE COUNTER TUBE RESULTS Erwin Spingies,Hamburg, and Herbert Rose, Wohltorf,

Laueuburg, Germany, assignors to Brunsviga MaschineuwerkeAktieugesellschaft, Braunschweig, Germany Filed May 24, 1957, Ser. No.661,361

Claims priority, application Germany July 19, 1956 '3 Claims. (Cl.250-208) Decade cold cathode tubes with ten cathode connections, in theleads of which resistances can be introduced are known. The voltages onthese resistances are utilized for transmitting counted results tofollowing instruments. Such counter tubes are open to the objection thatthey only count impulses in one direction (additive). A tube cannottherefore carry out two calculations, such as addition and subtractionper decade.

Decade counting tubes are also known which operate like a cathode raytube and count impulses in both directions or senses. These countertubes are capable of counting impulses positively and negatively inquick succession. After a counting operation, a spot of light remains onthe screen of the counter tube and the position of said light spotcorresponds to the result. In the case of these tubes it is possible topick up the result of a calculation by electric means only with complexequipment as otherwise the reliability of the counting is jeopardized.

In order to enable the counting of impulses in both directions or sensesby a decade counter tube with very simple means, it is proposedaccording to the invention, to arrange on the luminous screen of adecade counter tube light-sensitive cells, such as photo-resistors. Thelight-sensitive cells can be vaporized or deposited upon the innerand/or outer side of the glass bulb of the counter tube. It is likewisepossible to vaporize the lightsensitive cells onto supports which arefixed on the counter tubes. The light-sensitive cells can be vaporizedupon the glass bulbs before these counter tubes are assembled. If thelight-sensitive cells are applied on the inner side of the glass bulb,they are well protected against moisture, whereas if they are applied onthe outer side of the glass bulb, they are easier to connect.

In the case of existing counter tubes, it is advisable to vaporize thelight-sensitive cells upon a support or base and to fix said support orbase on the glass bulb of the counter tube.

The light-sensitive cells can be provided with layers for altering thelight spectrum at the points representing values so as to adapt thespectrum of the light spots to the spectrum of the light-sensitivecells, because the spectral sensitivity of the light-sensitive cellsdoes not in most cases lie in the same spectrum as the luminous screenof the counter tube.

It is possible, according to the invention, to carry out electronicallyeither positive or negative additions at each place with a counter tubeof the cathode ray type and to electrically transmit the results via thelight-sensitive cells. The light-sensitive cells have separate inputsand outputs, each of which can be joined together on one side to aterminal.

A schematic circuit diagram of a counter tube with photo-resistorsapplied on its outer side is illustrated by way of example in the onlyfigure of the accompanying drawing. 7

The decade counter tube 10 provided with a glass bulb has, in knownmanner, a luminous screen 12 and a perforated screen 16. Photocells 0 to9 are arranged on a support 11 which is fixed on the glass bulb of thetube 10. For the purpose of adapting the luminous spectrum of the lightspots on the luminous screen 12 to the spectral sensitivity of thephotocells 0 to 9, a chalk layer 13 is arranged between the luminousscreen 12 and the photocells 0 to 9.

If, after passing through a perforation in the mask 16, the electronbeam 14 strikes the screen 12 to create a luminous spot which remains onthe luminous screen 12 at the location of photo-cell 3, this cellgenerates a voltage which is utilized for recording or for some otherpurpose.

The photo-cells 0 to 9 are connected jointly by a lead 15. The loads forthe individual photo-cells are designated 20 to 29, respectively, asshown by the draw ing and may comprise any suitable indicators, such assignal lamps.

The automatic passing on of the result indicated eliminates any errorsof transfer such as can occur in the case of reading with the human eye.

Of course, various changes may be made in the details disclosed in theforegoing specification without departing from the invention and theclaims annexed hereto.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for converting visible phenomena from a counting tuberepresenting numerical values by relative positioning thereof intoelectrical signals, said apparatus comprising a plurality ofphoto-sensitive elements operatively positioned with respect to saidphenomena and electrically connected together on one side thereof, saidelements each being individually associated with individual phenomenaand responsive thereto to efiect output voltage signals, meansinterposed between said photo-sensitive elements and the source of thevisible phenomena for matching the sectrum of the phenomena to thespectral response of the photo-sensitive elements, and means forconnecting output equipment to said elements.

2. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said elements comprisephoto-resistive cells and means for connecting energizing sourcesthereto.

3. The apparatus defined in claim 1 further including a support memberand means for mounting said elements on said support member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,534,369 Ress Dec. 19, 1950 2,640,880 Aigrain et al. June 2, 19532,743,430 Schultz Apr. 24, 1956 2,748,304 Borden et al May 29, 19562,758,712 Linderrnan Aug. 14, 1956 2,778,952 Balde Jan. 22, 1957

